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| - I write this from a kind of retail limbo.
Truth be told, I'm not sure if Atmosphere is open or closed, or in the process of relocating to tonier digs within the Eaton Centre.
First christened Coast Mountain Sports, Atmosphere opened when Sportchek (nee Collegiate) took over the space formerly held by Tower Records.
A bigger, glitzier version of MEC or Sporting Life, it anchored the corner of Queen and Yonge, and filled downtown suits with the promise of nature red in tooth and claw.
A fair selection of name-brand outerwear competed withunmemorable house brands; but the usual suspects were well-represented. Columbia for the newbies, Helly Hansen and The North Face for weekend warriors, snugger-fitting jackets by Marmot and Arc'teryx for extreme dog-walkers. A great selection of hiking boots and hippie-style sandals, too; all patrolled by staffers who ranged from gnarly disinterest to bitchin' helpfulness.
On a good day, service would warrant four stars; most days it would be undermined by poor backstock, and ludicrous policies that did not facilitate transfers between stores, back orders, or refunds without a restocking charge (I will personally lead a campaign to make 'restocking charges' illegal. Biggest ripoff ever).
A birthday gift purchased for my brother once went horribly wrong. I never shopped there again.
Since I love me a windproof, waterproof, breatheable jacket, I hope the Scvhroedinger's Cat in the Atmosphere box is still alive. I also hope that when the store receives its facelift, a personality transplant is in the works as well.
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